Pacesetter Woes (Last Update: 6-2) FIXED!

[jc Kyle]

good luck, keep up posted

[user1101]

nice pictures. That's exactly the problem we had with Hawgs' headers. I've scrapped my plans to buy them now.

[Snuffalofogus]

that doesnt look like that much of a gap. looks like you could just muscle it in.....

[Distephano]

I'm still standing by what I think. There should be no reason to "Muscle" these to fit. We are not dealing with flexable things here.

The headers must be bolted flat onto the engine: No play there

All joints on the headers and Y-Pipe are welded: No Play there

The Ball joints must be lined up and tight enough not to leak. This means forcing the two sides of the ball joints to line up. This means you are applying a LOT of unneeded force on the ball joints, and where the headers bolt to the engine. Not to mention the welds themselves.

My biggest worry is where the engine meets the headers. With all that force, and the length of the header making for more leverage on that joint, I see leaks forming very quickly.

[Linxs]

Yup same as mine.

[hawgs]

Awesome pictures. Mine were EXACTLY like that.

[Tyler]

i didnt have that problem... i guess im a lucky one. even though i had to drill through one of them because of an o2 sensor bung not being open.. it was just a bung on a pipe.. with no hole... lol

[Distephano]

Well everyone, I got an email back from Pacesetter today. Here is what it says:

hello , i posted a comment on your site for the link you provided me , here is what i said ;
with the help of these pictures , and a few others we have talked to over the phone , the problem orentated with the angle of the flange for the headers , we have currently stop selling these to fix the problem with the stock we have here , and are working on a fix for those that have the headers already
we are changeing the fixtures to better locate the headers in place , and redesigning the Y-pipe to accomadate any variences in the headers , the left side of the Y-pipe will seperate from the Y-pipe instead of a 1 piece design will now be 2

ive heard more horror stories with rk's headers than ours , plus for some we have a better advantage our headers are CARB pending , which means they will be emissions legal , and be accepted by more states as street

how soon before you have your motor ready to go in ?? we should have the problems fixed really soon .

your motor is looking good buy the way !

Eric Remboldt
Customer Service
602-266-1964
eremboldt@pacesetterexhaust.com

So it sounds like there was a problem with the headers themselves. They have stopped selling them until they have the problem resolved. So, I assume I'll be getting them fixed, but as of yet, there is no window of when, other than, "Really Soon."

On a side note... Their Tech Support Via email is really badly typed...

[hawgs]

What does that mean for us though?

I need to call now since they admitted it was their design. I need some sort of compensation for the money and time I have spent correcting their error.

Oh.. and May is the 5th month, not the 6th. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[viper98885]

I have a relatively new set of 3.4L V6 headers here...they have a 2-piece y-pipe. My set that I bought about 3 years ago has a one piece y-pipe. It looks like they are making provisions for more than the 3.8 on the y-pipe.

[Distephano]

Originally posted by hawgs:
What does that mean for us though?

I need to call now since they admitted it was their design. I need some sort of compensation for the money and time I have spent correcting their error.

Oh.. and May is the 5th month, not the 6th. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Whoops on the Date [img]smile.gif[/img]

As for compensation...I dunno. You said you were in with someone from the company, I'd talk to them. For everyone else, I'd wait till we see what they do to correct this problem. If you have already altered your headers... I really don't know, as they may have voided the warenty, they might not have to pay. I'm really not sure, and its not my place to say.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

I talked to Fred, he's in charge down there. He said they are fixing the problem, like you said.
Go to there website, get their phone number, and ask for FRED GERLE. He will help you out.
Tell him Ryan with the white v6 camaro sent you. ;)

[Kris Burns]

Mine did'nt line up either luckilly pacesetter is ten minutes from my house. I took the y-pipe down there they took it in the back and came back out with a new one within five minutes they have real good customer service if you go in person. To bad pretty much none of you can do that.

[Distephano]

Ok everyone, here is the latest from the Tech I'm in contact with at Pacesetter.

They have QUIT selling the 3.8 headers until they get this problem fixed.

What they are doing to correct the problem:

All upcoming Y-Pipes will now be two peices. From what I understand, the middle peice, and the right part of the "y" will be one part. Then, there will be a stub of a pipe going to the left. The kit will come with a seperate peice for the left pipe. This peice will slip OVER the stub, and then be clamped down, according to where you need it, to make the Y-Pipe line up with the headers.

For those of us with the headers already, they will be sending out these peices when they are ready. It will be up to us to get the old left sides cut off, at I assume, our cost.

The Tech told me, that if you have the existing Y-Pipe bent or altered to fit any other way, that is at your cost, they will not be covering any costs incured while making these fit.

To me this seems like a REALLY sloppy fix for a bigger problem: Tighter productions specs. But I'm just a paying customer, what do I know... :rolleyes:

Anyways, I could get no specific ETA on when these new pipes will be done, other than, "Really Soon."

So those of you who want these to get fixed, DON'T TAKE THEM TO A SHOP AND HAVE THEM ALTER ANYTHING, if you don't want to rack up extra costs, because they won't be covered as far as I've been told.

I personaly, am going to take a shot at bending out the "Y" of the Y-pipe, the amount I need. I *think* i should be able to pull it off with out wrecking the coating, or any welds, if I do the pulls in the right places.

Sorry I didn't bring any better news guys :( If my bending goes well I'll post how I did it and what I used to do it.

If I had it to do over, I don't think I'd buy Pacesetter again. This cut and clamp idea seems really sloppy.

[DannyV6Camaro]

i think i need to give them a call, cause i brought mine in the GP to, but havent installed them. I wonder if they will weld the extension on for me if a send it to them???? what do u guys think???